Week 4 Fantasy Football Dark Horse Sleeper: QB Joe Flacco

By Adam McGill

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 4 of the fantasy football season, bye weeks are just starting to open up. The Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers both have the week off, so fantasy owners in standard one-quarterback leagues will be looking for a replacement for Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton.

One of the best fill-in quarterbacks to grab this week is Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco.

Despite his dream run in the playoffs last year, Flacco has somewhat fallen out of grace within the fantasy community. He is coming off a miserable performance last week in which he threw just 171 yards on 16-of-24 passing. He didn’t score a single touchdown and even fumbled the ball, despite the fact that it wasn’t recovered.

Fortunately, Flacco faces off against a Buffalo Bills team that is currently ranked 19th against the pass and was just torched last week by New York Jets QB Geno Smith for 331 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie looked like an All-Pro in Week 3 and it is scary to think what the Super Bowl winning quarterback could do to Buffalo’s inexperienced secondary.

CB Justin Rogers was abused all game last weekend and the third-year corner gave up a gave-winning 69-yard touchdown pass to SantonioHolmes. With this type of youth on the outside, Buffalo will be hard-pressed to be able to contain speedy WR Torrey Smith and Flacco will give him plenty of shots downfield to try to haul in a long gainer. It could be a long afternoon for Buffalo’s corners once again this Sunday.

If you have Flacco on your roster, I would recommend giving him the nod this week. Obviously start Drew Brees or Matthew Stafford if you own them in Week 4, but if you need a decent bye week replacement, make Flacco your guy this week.